Measuring and control apparatus



MEASURING AND CONTROL APPARATUS l By E. EK 1,894,307

MEASURING AND CONTROL APPARATUS.

Filed May 20 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17, 1933. EKv

MEASURING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 2o., 192e 5 sheets-sheet 5 IIUHIIIT Jan. 17, 1933.

E. EK 1,894,307

MEASURING AND CG'NTROL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 20. 1926 Jan. 17, 1933. EK 1,894,307

MEASURING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 2d, 1926 5 sheets-sheet 5 P Arm/mfr Patented Jan. 17, l1931? EMIL nir, or PORTLAND, MAINE, 'Assienoia To Anna Aim COMPANY, or

MAiiim, A ocnieoii'Arioir or MAINE v l"rre stares mirrin'1"yg oFFiCE 1 MPiAsUniirs erm contre-on APPARATUS Application tiled May-20,

This invention relates to improvements in measuring andr control apparatus. More especia-lly it relates to apparatus for handling Wire, cordage.` thread, tapeor any product of l 5 similar linear Jform. The apparatus herein shown and described is Aparticularly adapted for use* with wire,r but thisis to be taken as merely illustrative of one application of thel ured. The provision 'of apparatus capable oiV measuring;v wire during its travel and capable of controlling its movement is an vobject of the present invention. Other objects are to provide a measuring and control unit that is operated by the movement of 'the Wire itself and to provide operative connections between the device to which the measured wire is delivei'edso that When a predetermined length has been measured the unit its control mechanism will operate through the connec- 30 tions to stop the supply and the `delivery device. Tli/*here the latter is a power driven unit, it is a feature of the invention that the control mechanism both disconnects the power and applies braking means.

ln the best mode in which IV have con-v templated applying the principles of myk invention the wire is loopedfaround a rotatable n ember and, in its travel, causes rotation of this member to eiizect loperation of the measuring and control apparatus. lt is therefore rotatable member whose eiiective surface i- Contact with the wire can be adjustedin extent so that wires oic diiierent diameters can be handled and their differences in size F this unitand both the source ofsup'plyland further object yof the invention to provide 1926. Serial No. 110,431'.

be compensated lfor by adjustment of the said surface te' the end that a precise of length o f :wirewill bei measured irrespective of its size.

ln the illustrative' embodiment of. the in- PORTLAND,

vention shown hereinI have represented the `source ot' supply as ,being a spool of wire, and the delivery device as being a poweropcrated spcol which draws the wire from the supply and winds" it ina coil. Novel supf porting` means are provided for each of said spools and each is provided with control mechanism operatively connected with a measuring unita The latte-r is located between thel spools Vanelli-as a wheel around the rim of whichv the wire is in contact during itstranser from one spool tothe' other'. This rim isadjustable in extent to vary the peripheral l dimensio'i-i of the -wheel so that when `wires ofV different sizes arev handled, the portionof wire encircling the rim-z willl beof predetermined length regardless of its size. The

rotat'oiiof the wheel',caused by-movement ofthe wire,` is transmitted tok a tabulating de'vicefwhich records the length of wire drawn, and to control :mechanism which operates automatically tostop theA wire lmovement whicli'in the illustrated apparatus is Aaccomplished by a release of the power drive and an application of brakes to both the sup'- ply and windingl spools.y The control mechanisiiican be set to permit any desired' length,

within the limits 'of the apparatus, 'to K be ineasuredand when set for a particular-length will Y operate to stop the .apparatus rwhen that exact length has been measured. According.- ly when'theapparatus-has been properly adj usted and set it can be leftto its own devices with the assurance that (when the desired iifgtli of wire hasbeen drawn from the supthelmcvement ofthe wirewill be, stopped `without danger of more or less than the predetermined length being ,withdrawntv il It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression". in. thefappended claims whatever features of patentable novelty eXist in th-e invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3' Vis a side elevation of a supply spool and its stand;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the saine; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the measuring unit with the counter and beveled gears removed for clearness;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the saine; Figure 7 is aside elevation of a winding device;

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the saine, partly in section on line 8-48 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a measuring wheel having an adjustable rini; i Figure 10 is a sideelevation of the wheel of Figure `9 but with the rim-band removed;

Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the wheel;

and

l2-12of Figure 5, showing details.

Referring to the drawings the wire fw to be i measured and wound can be taken from any v17 which turns withinthe bearing 13aL of support 13, there being provision for locking the sleeve and shaft together by means of the collar 18 and set screws 19. In positioning the supply spool on its standards one end of the shaft 1,4 is placed in the socket 15 andthe other lend is brought over a hooked arm 2Oa of `a hand lever 2O fulcrumed on the standard 12. -V At this stage the lever 20 will be in the position shown dotted in Figure 1 while the adjacent side of the spoolrests on the floor with `its shaft 14 over the hooked arm 20a. By depressing the handle end 2Ob of the lever the spool shaft 'is raised and easily forced `up the inclined track 12b on the standard 12 until finally brought into the open bearing 12a where it is held by the hooked arm 20a, the handle end of the lever being locked to the standard 12 by the detent pin 21. y

The square shaft 16 has a cross bar 22 at its end which rests against the supplyspool and carries pins 23 for engaging holes inthe spool side. As will hereinafter appear it is desirable to center the supply spool 10 with respect to the measuring wheel of the nieasuringunit and for thispurpose shaft 16 can bel slipped aXially through the sleeve 17 to accommodate narrow orvwide spools, the shaft 14 being similarly movable with respect to its open bearing 12a. In Figure 2 a relatively by stopping its rotation and Figure 12 is an elevation, taken as on line narrow spool is shown, and the shaft'16 is l having ya flange 17b projecting toward a plate 13b attached to or integral with the bearing hub 13a. @n the latter plate are pivotally mounted braking `bands 24` whose free ends closer to the standard 12 than in Figure 3 are connected byl links 25 with a vertical rod Y 26 which in turn is connected by a coiled spring 27 with a crank 28 secured to a horivzontal rod 29. lilhenthis horizontal rod and crank are rotated, as will later appear, the spring pulls the rod 26 downward and forcoi. the brake bands against the flange 1r" there.- the rotation of shaft 16 and supply spool 10. l l rllhe wire w passes from the supply. spool 10 through a guide 3U and one or more times around a'ineasuring wheel 31 'mounted on a shaft 82 jo-urn aled in the base of the nicasuring unit, so that vwhen the wire is vpulled to the left as seen in Figure 1 the wheel will therebyl be rotated counter-clockwise. only one size of wire is to be handled by the apparatus the measuring wheel would h ave simpley grooved rini 31 such is illustrated in Figurc and its circumference would be of such length that when the wire is "iistl looped around it-the axial line of the wire would be a predetermined length, for example five feet. Accordingly' one rotation of the wheel, with the moving with it, would mean that fivefcetof wire had been drawn from the supply. Y n

The sliaft'32 ofthe measuring wheel carries a piiiionlfl which meshes with an interincliate gear', 3401i shaft; 535. on the opposite ond of whichisa beif'eled pinion 36" (see Figui-.e 2.) which, through similar pinion 37, drives the :main Vshaft of a counter Ily proper selection ofthe lgears and pinions already mentioned the counter can be operated to count five during each rot measuring wheel thereby rcgisteringtlie fact that .ive feet 'of wire have been drawn from the. supply. 14; small gear 39 beside rear 34 on shaft 35 (see Figures and 6) transmits rotation to a gear 40 on shaft 41aiid e.

ation-.of the Y small vpinion 42 fixedthereon. The latter pinion meshes with the toothedperipheryof :in Vindex wheel 43' which, `as illustrated, has' fiftyv equally spaced holes 44 around its rin into which can beset selectivelya stop piuV Theratio` of the gearing thus fai' detations of the measuring wheel to turn the index wheel one-.iiftieth of a rotation. That is the gear ratios are as follows: pinion 32 to gear 34 is l. to 5; pinion 39 to gear 40 is l to 8, and pinion 42 to wheel 43 is l to 25. Accordingly when the measuring wheel has turned around: twenty timos shaft will have been rotated four tim-es, haft 4l will havev rotated one-half a Vturn and the shaft il@v of they index wheel will have turned through one-liftieth of a. rotation. In other words twenty turns of the measuring wheel, corresponding tothe passa-ge of one hundred feet of wire, advances the stop pina distance equal to the space between adjacent holes 44. "A cam 47 is. attached to shaft 41 having two, operating arms 47 a and 47b oppositely spaced and each adapted singularly to perform the, function of the cam during a half rotation of its shaft. The cam face of each arm begins close by the shaft and curves outward at increasing distance from the shaftsaxis until, when the maximum distance is. reached,l it terminates at-the edge of a. hardened steel block 47 whichpartly overlies the radial stretch of the arm back. toward the axis to. thebeginning of the next cam face. tVhi-le the cam is turning one of its cam faces acts upon a roll 48 mounted on a bar 49; rlhis bar is suitably slotted. at 49a and 49'3 to allow shafts 4l and 32 to extend therethrough respectively, there being a collar 50 on shaft 41 and collars 51 and 52 on shaft 32 to keepi the bar in position for its roll 48 to be engaged by the cam faces. At its lower end the bar-has an arm 49C between which and a support 5,3 is a spring 54 coiled about a -rod 55. This spring is a. compression spring and tends constantly'to urge the bar 49 upward against the shafts 32 and 41', but is gradually compressed as thercam revolves by one of the cam faces 48, and bar 49. f

When the cam has turned to bring thegoutermost point of one of its blocks 47 against the roll 48 and the spring 54 is inits most compressed state, a pair ofilatch levers 5,6 pivoted at their lower vends to the support 53 are drawn together by a spring 57 so thatl suitable shoulderQ 56a, provided about mid.- way of each lever 56, engage the upper sideof arm 49 and thus lock the bar down against the force of coiled spring 54. The upper ends of these latch levers 56 are connected by links 5.8 with an arm 59a of alever 59'which is journaled in and vextends through the extension plate 33a of the base 33. f The other arm 59b ofthis lever 59 carries a pin 60 provided with a hole through. which projects a rod 6l that is connected to the long arm 622L of another lever 62 whose shorter arm 621 carries a roll 63. The weight of the longer arm"62anormally holds the roll- 63 in the path of the stop pin 45', vso that whenv the rotation ofthe index wheel brings this pin into engagement with acting through the roll ,Y

the roller 63, the lever 62 will bemoved to pull the lever 59 to force the links 58 downward, i

thus spreading the latch levers 56 and disengaging'them from thebar 49. The latter is not at once pushed upward by the coiled spring 54, however, because at the time the latch leversl are disengaged, one of the cam blocks 47 will have passed the roll 48 kand come into contact with a hardened steel block 64 mounted on bar 49 close. beside the roll 48 and in position to engage with the cam face as the latter leaves the roll. The conditi-on thus described'is illustrated in Figure 6. As. the cam continuesv its movement, the sharp edge of its hardened block 47 slips off the edge of block 64 and the bar 49 then jumps upward quickly under force. of spring 54. The action of the cam is so timed in relation to the index wheel that whenever the latter through its stop pin and described linkage is acting to spread the latch levers theoutermost part of a Acamface willv at that time be pressing on the roller 48 or block 64, thus overcoming the force of spring 54 and' permitting the latch levers to `be easily spread. If the stop pin has not,` reached the roll 63 when acam arm is thus holding the bar 49 down, the latch levers will not be spread as described, but will be held together by the springl 57 ready to take upthe task of holding down the bar as. soon as the cam arm passes by theroll 48. The upward movement of the bar 49 lifts the rod and turns-crank 65 which is securedto the horizontal rod 29. In consequence the brake is applied to the supplyy spool l0 as earlier del scribed and at` the same time other means, hereinafter recited, are actuated to release the i powerand stop a Winding device.

through another guide 30a and thence to. a windingspool-'66 which ispreferably'made of two. shells-'66EL and 66b which can be closedl to,- gether to form al concave spool as shown. The shell 66b is fixed on the end of -a shaft 67 on which is loosely mounteda pair of pulleys 68 and. 68a or other means by which connec- ,Y tion can be made to. a power source, not shown.y

Clutch mechanism 69 provided for operatively connecting the pulley' 68 to the shaft 67 and, as shown, is constantly urged toward engaging position by a grooved collar 70 and coiled spring 7l, mounted on shaft 67 between the clutch and a bearing 72a of standard o v l.-. Tins arrangement A1s not necessary, because it 1s contemplated that any suitable clutch mechanism can be employed and that both its engagement and dismagagementcan be effected positively, if preferred. When it is desired'to adjust the apparatus and turn it over by hand, the driving belt (not shown) is thrown on loose pulley 68a, thus in effect dis# connecting the power entirely.

Fronrthe measuring wheel the wire passes ine Vfio

i The other shell 66a of the winding spool is lattached to another Vshaft 7 3 supported in aXial alignment with shaft 67 by a movable bracket 74 whose arms 7 4EL and 74b are mounted on two parallel rods 75 slidable in bearings 7 2b on the winding spool standard 72. A

- pair of bell-crank levers 76 pivotally supported on the side of the standard carry rollers 77 on which the bracket rods 75 can move when the bracket and the shell 66a are Withdrawn to permit removal of the wound wire. Provision is made for adjusting the angular setting of the bell crank by means `of the studs 78 associated with their depending arms. l/Vhen closed, the shells are locked together by a' hook 79 which catches on a looped rod 80 secured to the standard 72. This hook is carried by a hand lever 81, connected by vlinks 82 with the bracket arms 7 4a and 7 4b, by means of which the shell t6il is easily separated from the other shell. Y'

lVhen the rod 29 isturned by the action of spring 54 on crank 65 of the measuring unit to apply the brake to the supply roll, it also turns a crank 83. The latter has a slot 83a that engages a stud on rod 84 to pull it down- Y ward. The upper end of this rod is connected by Vbell crankV levers 85 and links'86 with a brake band-.87 arranged on the drum of the clutch mechanism 69. About midway of the rod 84 is, a stirrup or yoke 88 connecting it with a pair of levers 89 that are pivotedat one end on the standard 72 and carry between them attheir other end a roller 90.

f Between the levers 89 is another lever 91,

having a curved lower end which is engaged by roller 90 to swing the lever clockwise (as Vseen in Figure 7 about its pivot 91a on i the standard 72. The upper end of this lever 91 has forked karms 91b which engage the collar 70. Accordingly as the crank 83 is turned'by the rod 29 the resulting downward movement of rod 84, acting through the levers 89 and 91 and collar 70, overcomes the spring 71 and permits disengagement of the clutch.

. The saine movement of rod 84 applies the brake band 87 to the clutch drum to stop its rotation and, since the latter isV splined to the shaft 67 in the usual manner, it is clear that rotation of this shaft and the winding spool 66 is also stopped.v

Thus it follows that when a predetermined length of wire has been drawn from the sup-` ply spool 10 and its passage around the measuring wheel has effected a sutlicient rotation ofthe index whe-el to operate the control mechanism heretofore described, the power of spring 54 will be utilized to release vthe power connectionlclutch 69) and apply the brake 87 to the winding spool and the brake 24 to the supply spool. This automatic stopping of the apparatus can bey effected when any desired length of wire has been Vmeasured and wound by simply setting the stop pin 45 the proper number of holes ahead ofthe roller 63.

neogeo? if the operator desires tostopthe apparatus at any other time, he may do so by steppingV on foot lever 92 which is fulcrumed on the` base 88 of the measuring unit and is connected to vertical rod 55. rlhis forces this rod upward through the coiled spring 54 and n turns` the" horizontal rod 29 to swing the cranks 28 kand 83 to disconnect thepower and apply the brakes.l The stopping ofthe winding and supply spools is depended upon to stop the measuring unit and there is there-k fore no brake provided for this unit althoughis a rim plate clamped to therim proper 81aV by screws 93'. rlfhese screws are threaded into and serve also as pivots for adjusting levers 95, there being a levery for each spoke with arin a extending along the spoke toward lt is a feature of the invention kthe rim at the unction with therspokes 94 Y the hub 31 to a forked endwhich engages a pin 96 carried by a collar 97 rotatable on Vthe hub 81". "This collar also has a hand lever 98, withpointer 98a, which projects radially fromgthe wheel aXis and ov'erlies a scale plate 99 attached to the rimplate 31C.v

Holes 99a' in the scale plate receive a detent Y pin carried by the pointer 98EL and enables the latter to be locked at the desired"'setting yon the scale which corresponds vwith the size of wire to he'measured. The levers 95k also have arms 95" which swing` within recessesV 31 formed in the rim 31a. l/Vhe'n thepointer 98a is at the hole 97 onthe scale, the levers95 will be positioned sov thatv their arms 95b are iiush with the'surfaoe of rim Slbut when the pointer is swung to theleft, as seen in Figure 9, thereby rotating the'collar y97 and 1 turning the levers 95 about'their pivots 93,k

the arms 95h vwill extend beyond the surface of the rim 31a. This protrusion ofthe arms 95b causes a rim-band 100 to expand against the push of' springs 101 which tend always to compress it. Accordingly, theeffective eX-.

tent of the rim surface of wheel-'V31 is in'- c'reased. By a proper setting ofV the pointerY 98a on the scale- 99 itis possible to provide a. rim surface of such extent that the length of the axial `line of a wire looped once around the wheel will alwaysbe ylive feet, assuming that Vto be the extent of rim surface for which the measuring unit is designed. The rimband 100 is forced to revolve with the wheel 65.- operatively apply said brake to vstop said by virtue of a pin 102 fast to it and engaged in a hole in the rim 31a.

As previously stated the measuring wheel 31 is so mounted on the shaft 32 that rotation of the wheel 'counter-clockwise, as seen in Figure 1, will cause the shaft to rotate with it. Rotation of the wheel clockwise does not turn the shaft. This can be effected by either a 'pawl and ratchet connection or, as shown,

by keying a colla-r 103 on the shaft 32 (see Figure 11) and pivoting a clutch lever 104 on one of the spokes 94 With its clutch shoe positioned against the rim of the collar. Whenv the Wheel turns counter-clockwise the shoe and collar are frictionally locked together, the spring 105 aiding in the locking, but when 4the wheel rotates in the opposite rdirection the shoe can slip along the collar Without elfecting a turning of the shaft 32.

After the control mechanism has operated and stopped the apparatus and the wound wire has been removed and the new end of t'he wire again attached to the Winding spool 656, the operator pulls hand 'lever 106`to the left, as seen in Figure 7, thereby turning rod29 against the force of spring 54 to release the brakes and permit the clutch to engage.vv A

Vfew turns of the measuring Wheel will cause sufficient rotation of the cam to hold the,

spring 54 down and permit the operator to let go of lever 106. This hand lever can also be used for an emergency stop (as well as the foot lever 92) by pulling it to the right and thereby turning the rod 29 to set the brakes.

The rod 29 is urged toward brake-off position by spring 107 connected between lever 92, and the base 33 of the measuring unit. The combined force of springs 107 and 27 is less than the force of spring 54, so that when the-latter is released it forces the rod 55 upward against the pull of its opposing springs.

Although the apparatus has been described' as it may be used with wire, it is obvious that cordage of all kinds could be handled as well as thread, tape and the like. Accordingly in the appended claims' the word wire is to be taken as an inclusive term embracing any material capable of being measured by apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. A

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a source of supply of wire; a pulling device for withdrawing the Wire therefrom; a brake adapted to be applied to said pulling device to stop the wire movement; a rotatable member arranged between said source and said device and rotated by the Withdrawn wire traveling over its rim; and means actuated by said member in accordance with the length of Wire traveling over its rim, having operative connection with said brake and adapted upon withdrawal of a predetermined length of wire to connection b'etween'thev control mechanism and said device; the said control mechanism bein-g ladapted upon Withdrawal of a pre-V determined length of wire to opera-te through the said connection to release said device from its power drive 4and operatively apply vsaid brake tosa-id device andthereby stop Withdrawal of the Wire.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a source of supply of wire; a power driven device for drawing wire therefrom having a clutch control-r ling its power connection andhavin a brake adapted, when applied, to stopy sai' device; control mechanism connected with said device, having a member engaged by the wire during the passage of the Wire from said source to said device anda'dapted to eifect action of said control mechanism in accordy ance with the lengthof wire withdrawn; said mechanism being adapted upon Withdrawal of a predetermined length of wire to effect release of said clutch and application of said brake.

4. Apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising, in combination, a source of supply of Wire; a wire supplying device having braking means adapted to control it; means for withdrawing wire therefrom; control mechanism interposed between said device andl said withdrawing means comprising mechanism actuated by the wire during its Withdrawal; and an operative connection between said mechanism and the said braking means; the said control mechanism being adapted upon withdrawal of a predetermined length of wire to 'operate through said connection to stop the supply. y

5. Apparatus of thev character described comprising, in combination, a supply spool comprising, in combination, a spcol of supj- 5130 ply wire; means for supporting said spool 91 predetermined length of wirehas been drawn rotatably comprising a shaft connected with` said spool and having braking means therefor; means for withdrawing wire from the supply; and means, interposed between said spool and said withdrawing means, and actuated by movement of the wire in accordance with the length withdrawn for applying the braking means to stop said spool when a predetermined length of wire has heenwithdrawn. y

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising; in combination, a source of supply of wire; a wire supplying device having a brake controlling its movements; a` device for withdrawingwire from the supply having a brakeV controlling its movements; control mechanism interposed between said devices and actuated by the wire in accordance Y with the length withdrawn; and operativeconnections ,between said mechanism and both said brakes, whereby upon the travel of a predetermined length of wire from the*` supply said'niechaiiism operates both bra res simultaneously. and Ystops the wire movement.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combinatioina device for supplying Wire anda device for withdrawing it therefrom and braking means for each device; control means between said devices having a rotatable member arranged to be rotated by the wire traveling over its periphery; power storage means arranged to be charged with power by said member; and

having operative connection with said braking means; and means actuated by said member in accordance with the length of wire withdrawn for effecting release of said powei' storage means upon the withdrawal of a predetermined length of wire, whereby the said power `storage means operates through its connection with said braking means to stop the wire movement. v v

9. Apparatus vof the character described comprising; in combination, a device for sup- Vplying wire and a device for withdrawing it therefrom and braking means for each detated by the wire traveling over its periphery; a rod having operative connection with said braking means; a spring for moving said rod to apply said braking means; inc-chanism actuated by said rotatable member for compressing said spring; means holding it in compression; .and other means actuated by said rotatable member in accordance with the A length of wire withdrawn for releasing said compressed spring; the last said means being v JL g adapted to be set to eiiect said release when a from the supply.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a device for supplying wire and a device for withdrawing it traveling; the. said rim being adjustable. vice; control means between said devices naving a rotatable member arranged tobe ro-V vice; control iiieaiisybetween said vdevices `raving a rotatable member, arranged to be rotated'by the wire traveling over Vitsperiphery; a rod having operativeconnection with said braking means; a spring for moving said rod to apply said braking means; a

bar arranged to compress said spring; a camA actuated by said rotatable member for moving said bar to compress said spring; means for locking said bar against movement when said spring is compressed; and means actuated by said rotatable member' in accordance Vwith the length of Wire y withdrawn and adapted to be set to eiilect release of said bary 80 upon withdrawal of a predetermined length; the operation of the last said means and the cam being synchronized so that said bar is free to move when released by the releasing.

member for registering the length of wire SOVV traveling; the said rim being adjustable in extent to compensate for diii'erent sizes of wire; the sai-d member having a split' rim Y band movable therewith and expansible radially to change the peripheral extent of the f member; the said member having a lever pivoted on it on an axis parallel to the face of the rim, with one arm extendingalong the face of the rim and arranged to engage said` band and with another arm extending toward thel member-s axis; and means for turning the last said arm to cause said face-arm to expand the rim band radially thereby to i increase the peripheral extent of the member.

l2. A device for measuring vwire having, in combination, a rotatable memberarranged to be rotated by the wire traveling over its rim; and means co-related withthe peripheral extent of the rim and actuated bysaid member for registering the length of wire in extent to compensate for diiierent sizes of wire; the said member having a split rim band movable therewith andexpansible radially to change the peripheral extent of the Y iicY member; a multiplicity of levers pivoted to i the rim on axes parallel to the members axis, each having Van arm extending along th-e face of the rim in position to engage the rim band,

and each having an arm extending toward the members axis; meansat the axis of said` member having connection with all'tlie last said arms whereby theycan bey moved getlier to alter the ,position of the face-arms and vary the position of the rim band with respectto the members axis, whereby the peripheral extent of the member is varied.

13. A device for measuring wire having,

r v in combination, a rotatable member arranged 6j?` therefrom and braking means for each devto be rotated by wire traveling over its periphery; a shaft upon which said member is mounted; registering mechanism driven by said shaft for indicating the length of wire so traveling; and means operatively connecting said member and said shaft adapted to permit rotation of the member in one direction Without causing movement of said shaft and to lock sai-d memberand shaft together upon rotation of the member in the opposite direction.

14. Measuring and control apparatus for handling wire having, in combination, a spool with a supply of wire thereon; supporting means for said spool comprising standards; a shaft journaled inone standard having an end socket; a shaft journaled in said socket and in the other standard and carrying said spool; means on the socketed shaft engaging sai-d spool whereby the spool moves with said socketed shaft; a brake engaging said socketed shaft; means for with- Vdrawing the Wire from said spool; control mechanism arranged to be engaged by the wire during its withdrawal and actuated thereby in accordance with the length of wire withdrawn; there being a connection between said mechanism and said brake whereby upon the withdrawal of a predetermined length of wire, the said mechanism operates to stop said socket shaft and thereby .stop the rotation of the spool.

15. Apparatus for handling wire comprising in combination, a spool with supply of wire thereon; a shaft on which said spool is rotatable; a standard for said shaft having an open bearing; a lever on said standard adapted to engage said shaft when said spool is resting on the floor and to force it into said open bearing there being means to lock said lever in position to retain said shaft in said openbearing.

16. Apparatus for handling wire comprising in combination, a spool with supply wire thereon; a shaft in which said spool is rotatable; a standard for said shaft having an open bearing; a track on said standard leading to said bearing; standard having a hook arm for engaging said shaft when the spool is on the floor beside the standard, and for forcing said shaft along said track and into shaft bearing thereby raising the spool from the floor; and

means to lock said lever in position to retain the shaft in the bearing. Y

17. Apparatus for handling wire comprising, in combination, a standard; a shaft ournal in said standard and movable longitudinally in the direction of its bearing; a socket in one end of said shaft; a second standard spaced apart from the first said standard; a second shaft journaled in said second standard and in the socket of the first said shaft; a spool with supply of wire mounted on said second shaft; means on the first said shaft for engaging the spool whereby the spool and a lever pivoted on thesaid first shaft turn together; means for locking said first shaftwith respect to its bearing when it has been moved longitudinally therethrough to engage the spool; and a brake for said first shaft whereby its rotation and the rotation of the spool m'ay be arlform a` concave surface upon which the wire is wound in a coil; a driving shaft upon which one of the shells vis secured; a standard v supporting said shaft; a second shaft upon which the other of said shells is mounted; a bracket movably mounted onv said standard and supporting, said second shaft; means for adjusting said bracket to keep said shafts in alignment; means forlocking the shells to-l gether; and means for inloving said bracket away from the standard to separate said shells.

20. A device for drawing and winding wire in rolls comprising, in combination, a split spool having two shells which together form a concave surface upon which the wire is wound in a coil; a driving shaft upon which onepof the shells is secured; a standard supporting said shaft; a second shaft upon which the other of said shells is mounted; a bracket supporting said second shaft and mounted on rods movable in bearings in said standard; means for moving said'rods and bracket to separate said shells; bell crank levers pivoted on said standard and carrying rolls upon which said rods roll in moving;

. and means for adjusting said bell cranks to maintain the said shafts in alignment.

21. Apparatus for withdrawing and winding a predetermined length of wire from a supply comprising a power kdriven spool to which the wire is secured and on which it is wound; a spool with supply of wire thereon; braking means for each spool; a measuring and control unit between said spools arranged to be actuated by the wire in passing from one spool to the other; and connections between said braking meansand the unit; the v said unit comprising mechanism arranged to be set to operate said brakes to stop said spools, when said predetermined length of wire has been withdrawn.

22; Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a source of supply of wire; a wire supplying device having braking means adapted to control it; means for withdrawing wire therefrom; and control mechanism interposed between said supply device and said withdrawing means engaged by said Wiie and actuated thereby in accord-- ance with the length of Wire Withdrawn; said control mechanism having operative connec# tion With the said braking means whereby upon the Withdrawal of a predetermined length of Wire said control mechanism will effect applicationof said braking means to stop the wire supplying device.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature at Portland, Maine, this 12th day of May,

y EMiL EK. 

